Post #3100031

according to jung in symbols of transformation there are two kinds of thinking, directed and non-directed. directed thinking takes effort and is a social form of thinking in that its patterned like and by language, where non-directed thinking is more a free association of images and ideas. unless he said all thinking is social but idk if he did. he claims that ancient peoples prioritized non-directed thinking, which is less rational and closer to dreaming than directed thinking, as evidenced by mythology and the strange fixations of pre-enlightenment thought. this is for the purpose of supporting the practice of interpreting dreams similarly to myths, since ancient people were more steeped in dreams than we are. jung uses the idea of the evolution of mankind and civilization towards more rational thought to use ancient thought to better understand the unconscious since directed thinking is more conscious while non-directed thinking and dreams are less conscious. admittedly i need to reread the essay i only read ot once my understanding is limited